DFL plans to launch Bundesliga eSports tournament

The German Football League (DFL) has plans to launch an eSports tournament for clubs in both the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2.

The eSports tournament is likely to have teams from the two tiers playing FIFA with the support of game publisher EA Sports.

Christian Seifert, CEO of the DFL, said: “eSport is highly popular among the younger generations, it has almost become part of everyday culture – in Germany and far beyond. With this as a background, it is a right decision that clubs and the DFL further expand their engagement in this area. It is a matter of shaping the future and responding to changes in media consumption and leisure time in the digital age.”

In January of this year, the Virtual Bundesliga joined the Road to the FIFA eWorld Cup. This development follows on quickly from reports of German Football Association (DFB) – the governing body for football in Germany – teaming up with marketing agency Infront and eSports agency Stark to create its own eSports league.

As things stand, 11 German clubs have signed players to represent them in eSports. This includes the likes of VfL Bochum 1848, 1. FC Nürnberg, VfB Stuttgart, Hertha BSC, VfL Wolfsburg and, perhaps best known, FC Schalke 04.